Commemorative swing-top bottles were sold at Barrier Brewing Company on Dec. 15. It was the company’s first growler session since Hurricane Sandy hit.

While Barrier Brewing Company began its rebuilding process, support was offered from local breweries, bars and fans. Simon Thorpe, CEO of Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y., invited Klein and Frymark to use the Belgium-influenced operation’s equipment and presented a collaboration to remain active with established accounts. The outcome, Barrier Relief, was brewed on Nov. 28-29 and combined the recipe for Barrier Brewing Company Mare Undarum, a Belgian-style IPA, with a yeast strain from Brewery Ommegang.

“Our Ommegang beer is a draft-only offering meant largely to help us maintain our draft lines while our brewery is off-line,” said Frymark. “When we had to shut down our previous operation for 3 months earlier this year to build our new facility, we lost a lot of draft lines and market presence as our supplies dried up and our beer was no longer available. We want to do everything we can to avoid that problem again with this situation, as it took us a great deal of work to get back on our feet.”

Barrier Brewing Company also participated in Sandy Relief Beer, a project by local breweries to help victims of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island. Eight breweries—Barrier Brewing Company, Blind Bat Brewery, Blue Point Brewing Company, Great South Bay Brewery, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, Long Ireland Beer Company, Port Jeff Brewing Company and Spider Bite Beer Company—gathered at Blue Point Brewing Company on Dec. 4 and created Surge Protector IPA. The beer, scheduled for an early January release, will raise proceeds for Long Island Cares, Inc., a Hauppague-based food bank, and Barrier Brewing Company.

“We were overwhelmed by the support of everyone involved,” said Frymark. “The storm impacted so many people on Long Island, so we’re happy we can also help out. It’s a great way to give back.”

While Klein and Frymark hope to begin brewing in January, Barrier Brewing Company is now open for growlers, offering beer unscathed during Hurricane Sandy (the 35-barrel Submersion Series “spent a lot more time fermenting” and “will definitely help financially while recovery continues,” said Klein). They also plan to continue brewing in Oceanside, despite its geographic vulnerability.